Converting playhouse to chicken coop. Need help with floorplan.

[bullets]

Hello!


I got this playhouse for free from a friend who is moving. I'm in the process of converting it for our first chicken coop. It's 6'Lx3'Wx4'H measured from the inside. I will be using the window on the left side as the entrance into the run. The window is 28"off the floor of the coop and it's 12"wide by 10.5"tall. Do I need a ladder to exit to coop? I know I'll need one for them to get back inside but I don't think I'll have room for a ladder on the inside. I plan on keeping about 6 chickens max. I have no idea where to put the roost and the nest boxes. I thought about running one long roost through the middle of the coop long ways but then I'm not sure about nesting boxes? Also, I'd have to have internal access to the nest boxes as well so I need so room to move around and clean. And what about the feeder and waterer? I want everything to be perfect and I want my gals to be happy and comfortable. Can you guys throw me some ideas?

Left side showing the exit window and human entrance.

Right side

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

18 sq feet isn't enough space for six chickens. Better plan on three or four, unless they are a very small breed. Have you chosen a breed?

Why don't you make the run come out the 'human' door? That would save the ladder/ramp space. Roosts (which should be round) could go on the right side, one or two nest boxes under them. Then, put the food and water in the middle or left. Not sure if that will work for you, but it's a thought.

 

[bullets]

That's how I planned on it originally but I've seen many playhouse designs with the exit out if a side window. The way the coop is orientated now is fixed and having the run coming out of the front won't work for where it's at in the yard now

 

[SunHwaKwon]

You can put an external nest box on rather easy. Or some people have nest boxes in the run. Food and water can go in the run as well. Put roosts on each short end or two at staggered height on the short end to the right of the door. My birds prefer flat roosts. What is your climate like where your are?

 

[bullets]

I thought about putting on external nesting boxes but decided that was outside of my comfort zone. The walls are 5" thick and insulated. It's a pretty solid structure and I'd like to not mess too much with it. I like the idea of putting a roost on both ends of the coop as well. With the nesting boxes in the run, now that sounds more like it! What would the logistics of that look like? Will the chickens wait till I let them out in the run in the morning to lay?

I live in MO. The climate here is hot and humid in the summer and cold in the winter. Average high/low is 44/23 degrees in January. Average high/low is 90/66 degrees in July.